cushcameleon
New Member
I just watched this guy feed his cham a fish and a pinky, pretty cool stuff. But cant that do some serious damage to the chameleons insides?
Cham eats more than bugs
- Thread starter cushcameleon
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jojackson
New Member
The pinky wont. the fish probably wont either (assuming it was a small freshwater fish)
but both are unatural foods for chameleons. If it ate them, then perhaps chams like other reptiles are opportunist.
I wouldnt comment on the health aspect of long term feeding of such a diet, but I suspect it wouldnt be good.
but both are unatural foods for chameleons. If it ate them, then perhaps chams like other reptiles are opportunist.
I wouldnt comment on the health aspect of long term feeding of such a diet, but I suspect it wouldnt be good.
laurie
Retired Moderator
I have 3 out of 3 adult veiled who won't touch anything that isn't alive!! Picky little brats.
hallenhe
Avid Member
I've read that, while pinkies may be used as very occasional treats for the larger chams, they are not good for them in any quantity - if I remember, I'll look up the specifics when I get home. In nature, I suspect chams will try for anything moving that will fit into their mouths - however, since chams are mostly arboreal, pinky mice and fish are probably not things they'd be encountering any too often.
SoCaliSon
Avid Member
Lombardi has had a couple pinkies in his time. I would bet that in the wild, birds and small mammals make up a small part of their diet... Especially Vieleds, seeing as how they can be found inhabiting lower bushes and shrubs, and considering their size. There are pics here on the forum that a member posted, of a Veiled that was enjoying a day in the sun and jumped on the opportunity to snag a hummingbird, and ate it whole. If anyone has that pic on hand it would be awesome.
I think it is correct that they are opportunistic feeders, and will shoot at anything of the proper size that happens to be moving in their range. I would bet my paycheck that a tree rodent that happened along the wrong branch would meet a quick end to a Big Male Veiled if he was spotted.
Fish I would be weary about. Small pinkies I don't think are really an issue on the rare occasion, but definately not as a normal part of the diet.
Edit: Found that Pic... Members name was nosferatu, I was going to ask permission but they haven't been on since '06. Since it was loaded to the forums I figured it would be okay to repost.
~Joe
I think it is correct that they are opportunistic feeders, and will shoot at anything of the proper size that happens to be moving in their range. I would bet my paycheck that a tree rodent that happened along the wrong branch would meet a quick end to a Big Male Veiled if he was spotted.
Fish I would be weary about. Small pinkies I don't think are really an issue on the rare occasion, but definately not as a normal part of the diet.
Edit: Found that Pic... Members name was nosferatu, I was going to ask permission but they haven't been on since '06. Since it was loaded to the forums I figured it would be okay to repost.
~Joe
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dodolah
Retired Moderator
I saw that thread back when i wasn't a mod.
But, as I remember it, in the end, the veiled actually cough out the humming bird.
SoCaliSon
Avid Member
Here is there thread... It was actually a normal sized female. And according to the poster the cham had no problem digesting the whole thing.
Small Birds
dodolah
Retired Moderator
Here is there thread... It was actually a normal sized female. And according to the poster the cham had no problem digesting the whole thing.
Small Birds
Whoa, I stand corrected.
I thought the veiled ended up coughing it out.
cushcameleon
New Member
Wow that is an awesome picture!
DJnSoCal
Established Member
When I became interested in Chameleons, I read as much as I could about their dietary requirements. I thought this site: http://www.exoticpetvet.com/breeds/chameleons.htm had some good information. Of course, there is lots of information out there. And everyone seems to have slightly varying opinions... such is life. What would a chameleon eat in the wild?
Here is an excerpt... much of which is contained in bits and pieces on this forum:
Chameleons eat a varied diet consisting of flies, crickets, grasshoppers, butterflies, silkworms, roaches, arachnids, waxworms, stick insects, mealworms, etc. The largest species also can eat small mammals, small birds, and other lizards. In captivity, this meal pattern is impractical. A staple diet of crickets (Acheta) can be supplemented with a secondary food source of mealworms (Zoophobias). To prevent "food burnout" a treat type feeding of silkworms, grasshoppers, butterflies, etc. or pinkie mice can be very beneficial from once or twice every week to every other week. If you elect to feed your chameleon insects gathered from the wild or the backyard, remember not to collect them in areas where chemicals and/or insecticides have been used because the residues may be passed along and harm the hungry chameleon. If possible insects should be gut-loaded prior to being fed to the chameleon. This is accomplished by feeding the insects a combination diet of rolled oats, ground legumes, corn meal, fresh greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes. An alternative insect food source can be grain mixes obtained from a feed store or co-op but make sure that they are FREE from any added medications or chemicals. Additionally a calcium source – such as Rep-Cal, alfalfa pellets, greens, or calcium carbonate -- can be added to the cricket cage to provide higher ingested calcium levels. The insects can be "dusted" with vitamin and calcium supplements such as Mineral-I, Rep-Cal, or Repti-Vite, but this should be used only once or twice a week for adult males and two to three times a week for adult females. Additional supplementing is recommended for juveniles (3-4x per week). A multi-vitamin should be fed once weekly for juveniles and twice monthly for adults.
Chameleons can be hand fed individual insects or the insects can be placed in an opaque container (make sure the container is kept clean and that it's not so tall that the chameleon is unable to reach the insect at the bottom of the container). We recommend that adult chameleons be feed 3-4x per week. The veiled chameleons, especially adult males, are unique in that they may supplement their water intake from eating plant material and may often accept a small dish of leafy greens and vegetables (the same for an adult iguana).
Here is an excerpt... much of which is contained in bits and pieces on this forum:
Chameleons eat a varied diet consisting of flies, crickets, grasshoppers, butterflies, silkworms, roaches, arachnids, waxworms, stick insects, mealworms, etc. The largest species also can eat small mammals, small birds, and other lizards. In captivity, this meal pattern is impractical. A staple diet of crickets (Acheta) can be supplemented with a secondary food source of mealworms (Zoophobias). To prevent "food burnout" a treat type feeding of silkworms, grasshoppers, butterflies, etc. or pinkie mice can be very beneficial from once or twice every week to every other week. If you elect to feed your chameleon insects gathered from the wild or the backyard, remember not to collect them in areas where chemicals and/or insecticides have been used because the residues may be passed along and harm the hungry chameleon. If possible insects should be gut-loaded prior to being fed to the chameleon. This is accomplished by feeding the insects a combination diet of rolled oats, ground legumes, corn meal, fresh greens, carrots, and sweet potatoes. An alternative insect food source can be grain mixes obtained from a feed store or co-op but make sure that they are FREE from any added medications or chemicals. Additionally a calcium source – such as Rep-Cal, alfalfa pellets, greens, or calcium carbonate -- can be added to the cricket cage to provide higher ingested calcium levels. The insects can be "dusted" with vitamin and calcium supplements such as Mineral-I, Rep-Cal, or Repti-Vite, but this should be used only once or twice a week for adult males and two to three times a week for adult females. Additional supplementing is recommended for juveniles (3-4x per week). A multi-vitamin should be fed once weekly for juveniles and twice monthly for adults.
Chameleons can be hand fed individual insects or the insects can be placed in an opaque container (make sure the container is kept clean and that it's not so tall that the chameleon is unable to reach the insect at the bottom of the container). We recommend that adult chameleons be feed 3-4x per week. The veiled chameleons, especially adult males, are unique in that they may supplement their water intake from eating plant material and may often accept a small dish of leafy greens and vegetables (the same for an adult iguana).
